Story Highlights

Historical event:

18 September 1993

The son of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver was a Catholic, just like his predecessors from the Kennedy, Shriver, and Schwarzenegger families. The famed John F. Kennedy was Maria Shriver's uncle.

Arnold Schwarzenegger’s first son, Patrick, was born on this day in 1993. His mother was Maria Shriver, a well-known member of the Kennedy family (John F. Kennedy was her uncle, as were senators Robert and Edward Kennedy). Naturally, the Kennedy family is of Irish descent and has become one of the most famous Catholic families in the USA.

Let us examine the genealogy of Patrick Schwarzenegger more closely. His father Arnold, former Mr. Universe and multimillion-dollar actor, was the Governor of California. Patrick’s mother Maria Shriver was the daughter of Catholic politician Sargent Shriver, notable for being the man who initiated the Peace Corps, Job Corps, and War on Poverty projects. Sargent Shriver was also a candidate for U.S. Vice President in 1972, but lost to Agnew (Nixon’s Vice President).

Maria Shriver’s mother was the famed Eunice Kennedy Shriver, the driving force behind the Special Olympics and President John F. Kennedy’s sister. The Pope awarded her the Order of St. Gregory the Great.

Young Patrick Schwarzenegger is also Catholic, just like his predecessors from the Kennedy, Shriver, and Schwarzenegger families. His name is of Irish origin, and refers to St. Patrick, Ireland’s patron saint. Patrick Schwarzenegger’s uncles also engage in humanitarian work – Mark Shriver at the Save the Children Fund, and Anthony Paul Kennedy Shriver at Best Buddies International (an organization for assisting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities).